From 2002 onward
The association reached out to policymakers, people with paralysis, and the French Association of Paralyzed Persons to raise awareness of Neurogel™, the first three-dimensional synthetic matrix capable of potentially improving motor and sensory functions in humans.
2003
The association requested a temporary authorization for the use of Neurogel™ from the Ministry of Health to conduct a clinical trial on 3 or 4 patients at the Pré Clinic in Le Mans, which offered its technical facilities. Despite support from policymakers and associations representing people with paralysis, this request was rejected.
2004
Neurogel en Marche attempted to gain support from researchers to conduct a new study on Neurogel. The association followed the advice of fundamental research scientists who pointed out that Neurogel alone could not provide a complete solution for treating paralysis. This does not call into question its fundamental qualities, but requires us to conduct studies combining Neurogel with additional factors capable of promoting better regeneration, including stem cells.
2006
The association established a scientific board bringing together researchers in both basic and applied research.
2007
The association conducted its first preclinical study in France at Aix-Marseille University (AMU) within Professor Decherchi’s team, testing Neurogel combined with EPO in rats.
2008
The association worked for 18 months with Stempeutics in Bangalore, India, which succeeded in cultivating mesenchymal stem cells within Neurogel. It also began collaborating with the University of Milan, University College London, and the Prague Research Institute.
2009: International Meeting in Prague
This summit was organized and funded by the association Neurogel en Marche and represents one of the association’s major achievements: THE CREATION OF A TRUE SCIENTIFIC COMMUNITY AROUND NEUROGEL™.
Present were researchers, neurosurgeons, gel manufacturers, and laboratory directors.
Our funding was primarily dedicated to the research of Professor Alfredo Gorio in Milan, who had succeeded in isolating and identifying the key factors stem cells must express to orient themselves, survive, colonize, and reorganize a damaged spinal cord environment.
2010: The association is received at the Élysée Palace
Our association was received at the Élysée Palace by Christian Frémont, Chief of Staff to President Nicolas Sarkozy, accompanied by Arnold Munnich, Special Advisor to the President for biomedical research and health. Discussions began regarding the conditions and funding for a clinical trial.
2012–2013: Media outreach and call for dissemination and collaboration
Our association appeared in several media outlets thanks to our press agency at the time, “Auvray et Associé.”
This also marked the beginning of a broad call for collaboration to anyone willing to volunteer their help in different areas.
The association gained new active members. More than 6 publications were released.
2014
Discovery of activated fat by the University of Milan — a matrix containing stem cells, numerous cytokines, and growth factors — which would replace synthetic Neurogel. We now had a tangible therapeutic tool allowing us to envision a clinical trial.
– French scientific researchers became interested in our project: the Clinical Investigation Center of La Timone Hospital in Marseille, “Orphanet,” and several biotech companies signaled their intention to support us.
– We continued collaborating with Professor Gorio: the stem cells present in activated fat led to a more global approach for treating spinal cord injury.
– We met Professor Grégoire Courtine in his laboratory in Geneva.
– We continued our search for funding.
– Most of our funding remained dedicated to Professor Alfredo Gorio’s work in Milan, who began identifying the key factors present in activated fat that promote axonal guidance, cell survival, colonization, and reorganization of a damaged spinal cord environment.
2014: Preclinical animal trials with activated fat (Prof. Alfredo Gorio)
The association requested a temporary authorization for Neurogel™ use from the Ministry of Health to conduct a clinical trial on 3 or 4 patients at the Pré Clinic in Le Mans, which offered its technical facilities. Despite political support and backing from associations of people with paralysis, the request was rejected.
Following the death of the neurosurgeon Dr. Antonio Reis — who was supposed to lead a trial in Lisbon — the association searched for a medical team capable of applying the protocol of our late neurosurgeon.
2017
The association requested temporary authorization from the Ministry of Health to use Neurogel™ in order to conduct a clinical trial on 3 or 4 patients at the Clinique du Pré in Le Mans, which offered its technical facilities. Despite support from politicians and associations of paralyzed people, this request was rejected.
2018: Fundraising campaign for a human clinical trial in China — Carrefour and “Les Boucles du Cœur”
Neurogel en Marche reached an agreement with the International Spinal Cord Injury Center in Kunming to conduct a clinical trial on 6 French patients and 6 Chinese patients using activated fat combined with EPO.
A fundraising campaign began, notably with Carrefour and “Les Boucles du Cœur.”
In collaboration with Carrefour, we organized a fundraising initiative — an unprecedented opportunity that could finance the spinal cord operation planned that same year at the International Center for Spinal Cord Injury Treatment in Kunming, China.
This initiative began in 2015 in the Bordeaux region.
The 2016 and 2017 campaigns raised €18,500 in 2016 and €21,000 in 2017.
The association was also supported by several Lions Clubs in the Bordeaux region. In 2016, we raised over €17,000.
Following the announcement of the clinical trial, multiple events were organized to help implement the study.
2018: Call for volunteers for the first clinical trial in Kunming and fundraising efforts.
2019: First clinical trial in China — March 2019
Virginie, Eric, Zafer, Michael, Stéphane, and Aline traveled to China to undergo surgery for this world-first procedure.